Rotorua Area
It really does help to have contacts, especially in a place like New Zealand. Some friends had given our details to one of their retired farming friends who now lived in Rotorua. We had arranged to meet up with Jim at his bungalow on a rather nice housing estate prior to him taking us on a whistle-stop tour of the area. I should say that he has had quite a bit of past experience showing friends of friends the essential elements of Kiwi life.
Being farmers where else to go but the Agrodome . Jim had booked 3 tickets for the morning's all things sheep show, yes it is a booking visit, the place was heaving with coach loads of visitors all streaming in to take their seats. Seated directly in front of us were 3 coach loads of retired farmers from the mid-west [USA] to our right coach loads of Koreans. The site & building look pretty much as you would expect county agricultural show grounds back home to look & smell with a strong sheep aroma circulating through the building.
Now don't get me wrong, the show is very interesting. All breeds found in NZ parade onto the stage then take their place on a podium at the rear. Our host, dressed in suitable attire, proceeded to compere the show. He explained the variety of breeds, he sheared a sheep in minutes & perhaps the most interesting bit was the use of the dogs, the normal collie type then the star, the NZ huntaway, a barking sheep dog that not only barks continuously but also jumps onto the backs & runs across the herd of sheep. Truly amazing. Other interesting bits included a dairy demonstration with active audience participation, although one of the US farmers didn't play ball & when it was his turn to hand milk, proceeded to squirt milk directly at the compere who wasn't exactly chuffed!
Our afternoon was taken up by a visit to Waimangu Volcanic Park, a site recommended by Jim as a 'not to over the top' tourist attraction. If you travel to Rotorua, come here it is amazing. The scenery is stunning, the volcanic pools amazing, the boat trip awesome. Yes, there is some walking [downhill] & yes it is hot, these are thermal springs, but if you aren't keen on walking there is a bus that will take you down to Lake Rotomahana & its boat trip.
The walk down to lake takes you through lush undergrowth & past Echo Crater, Frying Pan Lake all steam & bubbling mud.
Steps lead you up to the amazingly blue waters of Inferno Crater, perhaps one of the most outstanding views, that blue colour was just something else!
Interestingly, there were very few people wandering about, the cafe & shop at the way in was pretty full so by the time we reached the bottom lake & boat cruise there were probably no more that about 10 of us?
Now, you must do the boat trip. The lake is vast & the constant commentary fascinating whilst the geysers are well worth working out how to turn your camera into video mode.
The lake is stocked with rainbow trout whilst graceful black swans glide gracefully across the deep, dark waters.
We were the last trip of the day, so had the opportunity to speak with the owners who recommended, for our overnight stop, the campsite at The Waikite Valley Thermal Pools. Admittedly it was flagged in our tourist map but we had thought to head on down towards Taupo. We decided to give it a try. Amazing, the campsite is small but, there are those thermal pools which were pure decadence. The campground facilities include a cafe cum restaurant whilst the showers use the thermal hot waters & the bonus bit is - unlimited use of the thermal pools. If in the area you really should stop here.
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